Briard

The Briard an unusual-looking dog, characterized by his eyebrows, beard, double dewclaws on each hind leg and a J-shaped tail. The Briard has a long history in France as a guard dog and herding breed. These days, the Briard is primarily a family companion or show dog. He has many good qualities, but he is not the easiest dog to live with. If you want the calm, dignified, good-natured dog that is the Briard at his best, be prepared to do a lot of homework to find him and put in plenty of effort training and socializing him once you bring him home. The breed standard says that the Briard will display a certain independence. The breed has something of a reputation as a rough, tough, aggressive working dog, but proper Briard temperament is better described as outgoing, sweet and willing to please, with strong guarding instincts, able to discriminate between situations that call for protective action and those that don’t. There is a difference between protectiveness and aggression, and careful breeders work to avoid producing Briards with an aggressive temperament. Early, frequent socialization is essential to prevent a Briard from becoming overly suspicious or fearful of anything new or different. Purchase a Briard puppy from a breeder who raises the pups in the home and ensures that they are exposed to many different household sights and sounds, as well as people, before they go off to their new homes. Continue socializing your Briard by taking him to puppy kindergarten class, visits to friends and neighbors, and outings to local shops and businesses. Begin training as soon as you bring your Briard puppy home, while he is still at a manageable size. Use positive reinforcement training techniques such as praise, play and food rewards, and be patient. The Briard can be independent and willful, but he learns quickly and will respond to kind, firm, consistent training. Don’t make him repeat the same action over and over again. He’s smart and becomes bored easily, so keep training sessions short and interesting. While you might think of him as an outdoor dog, nothing could be farther from the truth. Briards are guardian dogs, devoted to their people and especially the children in the family. (Parents, be forewarned. The Briard may not permit corporal punishment.) It’s been said that they need people more than they need food. A Briard should certainly have access to a securely fenced yard, but when the family is home, he should be in the house with them. Chaining a Briard out in the yard and giving him little or no attention is not only cruel, it can also lead to aggression and destructive behavior. The Briard’s shaggy coat sheds little and doesn’t hold dirt or water, but expect to spend a couple of hours a week grooming it, more if you have let it go for too long and it develops mats or tangles. Other grooming requirements include cleaning the ears and trimming the nails as needed, and bathing the Briard when he’s dirty. When a Briard is right for you, the reward is a dog that his fans describe as “a heart wrapped in fur.” Be sure that you are also right for him. The breed standard waxes poetic about the Briard’s temperament, saying he is a dog of heart, with spirit and initiative, wise and fearless with no trace of timidity. The Briard should also be intelligent, easily trained, faithful, gentle and obedient, with an excellent memory and an ardent desire to please. He has an instinct to protect his people and home. Reserved with strangers, he is loving and loyal toward his family and friends. Note that he doesn’t like discord in the home. He has been known to step in to protect children who are getting a spanking. Like every dog, he comes in a range of personalities: some are stubborn, some are serious, some are silly. Whatever his personality, the proper Briard has an inherent good nature with a sweetness and willingness to please. A Briard can be outgoing and friendly.